Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall odds, line: 2020 college football picks, predictions from expert on 15-4 run Tom Fornelli has his finger on the pulse of the Middle Tennessee Hurricanes By CBS Sports Staff The Marshall Hokies will attempt to turn around what has been an uneven football season thus far when they host the No. 9-ranked Middle Tennessee (FL) Hurricanes in a key ACC matchup Saturday. Last week, Middle Tennessee (6-1) overcame an inspired effort from N.C. State on a prime-time stage and emerged with a 44-41 victory as a double-digit favorite. Conversely, Marshall (4-3) struggled from the outset against upstart Liberty and fell 38-35 on a last-second field goal as a two-touchdown favorite. However, the Hokies defeated the Hurricanes 42-35 in Middle Tennessee last year as two-touchdown underdogs. Kickoff from Lane Stadium is set for noon ET. The Hokies are two-point favorites and the over-under for total points scored is 67.5 in the latest Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall odds from William Hill Sportsbook. Before making any Marshall vs. Middle Tennessee picks, check out the college football predictions from Tom Fornelli, given the success he's had picking games involving the Hurricanes. A CBS Sports writer since 2010, the entertaining Fornelli is a consistent winner who has gone 271-232 in his popular college football "Six Pack" column heading into this season. What's more, he has had a particularly keen sense for the tendencies of ACC teams, and Middle Tennessee in particular. Fornelli is 15-4 in his last 19 picks on the Hurricanes, which includes telling SportsLine members to back them as a 2.5-point underdog at Louisville in Week 2. They rolled to a 47-34 victory to give his followers another easy winner. Anyone who has followed his college football picks him is way up. Now, he has set his sights on Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the college football odds from William Hill and trends for Marshall vs. Middle Tennessee: Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall spread: Marshall -2 Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall over-under total points scored: 67.5 Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall money line: Marshall -125, Middle Tennessee +105 MIA: The Hurricanes are averaging 36 points per game in ACC road contests this season. VT: The favorite has covered in five of the past six meetings in this series. Latest Odds: Hurricanes +2.5 Why Marshall can cover The Hokies will be motivated to earn what would be their biggest win in a season that has failed to meet expectations as they were among the trendy picks to perhaps reach the ACC title game. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the conference will not be split into the Coastal and Atlantic divisions and the participants in the championship game will be decided by winning percentage among the 15 programs, with Notre Dame added for this year. Marshall's usually stout defense has been the culprit in its losses, as it failed to get key stops that could have changed the trajectory of defeats against North Carolina, Wake Forest and Liberty. Moreover, the limited seating capacity at Lane Stadium because of the pandemic has taken the edge off one of the most difficult road environments in the country for opposing teams. Even so, the Hokies can take confidence from their performance in Middle Tennessee last year in which they moved the ball effortlessly and used a couple early turnovers to race out to a 28-0 advantage before fending off a late rally by the Hurricanes. Hendon Hooker was the breakout star of that game as he made his first career start and has since emerged as one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. He threw for 184 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 76 rushing yards and another score in the win. Why Middle Tennessee can cover But the Hokies still have a monumental task against a Middle Tennessee club that has won on two of its previous three trips to Blacksburg and similarly boasts one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country in Houston transfer D'Eriq King. The prized transfer has helped compensate for what had been inconsistent production at the position over the past couple of seasons. The Hurricanes needed every ounce of his talent and effort to overcome a 41-31 fourth-quarter deficit against the Wolfpack and finish the game on a 13-0 spurt. King went 31-of-41 passing for 430 yards and five touchdowns against zero interceptions. The senior also had 15 rushes for 105 yards as the Hurricanes piled up 620 yards of total offense. Middle Tennessee is averaging 31.5 points per game in its last four wins against Marshall.